Mistfall by Olivia Martinez Page B

Probably all hyped up on a day full of adrenaline
running through your body and know you’re seeing things.
    Luca glanced at me sideways before turning
his blue-green eyes back to the road. “Do you ever wish your life
was different, normal even?”
    I laughed. I loved my life. Sure, it hadn’t
been easy, losing loved ones and constantly being hunted, but there
was good in it too. I had a best friend who I loved like a sister.
Even killing the occasional bad guy was fun. If I had been born an
elf, I probably would have joined the Aelfadl.
    “Normal doesn’t apply to us Luca, even if I
wasn’t the enemy. To answer your question…STOP! Stop the car Luca,
we’re here.”
    Lo and behold we had arrived and my life over
the past five years had come full circle. I was back at the diner I
had first set foot in when I ran the night my parents and Willa
were murdered. Sadly, I was running again. One day I’m going to
stop in here on purpose.
    “The diner?” he asked.
    “One day I’ll tell you the story. Right now
it’s time to find out what’s in this envelope.” I felt a shadow of
foreboding close in on me as I opened the letter. Some small part
of me realized nothing would ever be the same, let alone end well.
I chose to ignore that part and opened it up, girding myself for
whatever came next.
     
    Dear Mags:
     
    This is a letter I never hoped you would
have to read, for various reasons. The second reason you’re reading
this is that something has happened to separate you from all the
protections I had in place for you. (The first reason is not
relevant at the moment. I will get to that later.
    First things first, you need to find
shelter. Time is of the essence. You should be at the diner you
found after whatever befell me happened. I know what you’re
thinking. The long and short of it is that I had you spelled to
find that diner if something happened to me.
    You need to travel into the forest heading
south. A day’s journey from here is a Fae village. They will help
you. By the way, don’t worry about eating or drinking their food.
You’re immune, except for the fairy wine, stay away from that. Read
the rest of this once you are safe.
     
    Love,
    Willa
     
    Willa was still keeping me safe, even from
the grave. I returned the pages to the envelope, sighed, and turned
to Luca. “I guess it’s time for me to go.”
    His well tanned arms were rigid against the
steering wheel. “I don’t like it Mags.”
    “Don’t like what?”
    “You, going to see the Fae. They’re a bunch
of randy pranksters. I don’t trust them.”
    Wow, he was pretty adamant against my
visiting the Fae. I guess he’s had a bad run-in or two with
them.
    “Luca, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m
a big girl. I think I can handle a horny fairy.” I had a short bout
of the giggles after that and Luca was questioning my sanity.
    Puzzled he asked, “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine. I was just thinking that if
we were human this conversation would be a non-starter. Well, maybe
it would, but I’d be having it with you because I wouldn’t be his
type!” I continued giggling while Luca groaned and shook his
head.
    “You’re in a life or death situation and
you’re joking?” he asked incredulously.
    I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s how I deal. It
works for me. Besides,” I looked to both sides, “no one followed
us, there’s nothing suspicious in the general area, and I have a
plan. Can’t be better prepared, under the circumstances.”
    There was something about Luca not wanting me
to go to the Fae that caused a vein of ice to form in my soul. It
just didn’t make sense. Then again, maybe he was just insecure. The
Fae really were a randy bunch. My brain was on high alert, nit
picking everything I heard and saw. I decided to go with the
simplest answer. He probably thought the girl he’s interested in is
heading into Fae territory and the chances of that ending well were
gnawing at him.\
    While I was mulling that